“Manuka honey could be an efficient way to clear chronically infected wounds and could even help reverse bacterial resistance to antibiotics, according to research presented at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Harrogate…”- www.sciencedaily.com
Hydrogen peroxide is common component of any honey and it gives most honey its antibiotic quality. But Manuka Honey, in addition to Hydrogen Peroxide has additional components that make it healing property exceptional.
Scientific research has found that it is dietary Methylglyoxal ingredient ( MGO ), that’s made Manuka Honey unique, and it comes from nectar of Manuka flowers from Manuka bush. Methylglyoxal is transferred into the honey where it remains stable. The higher the MGO number, the better the honey is at killing bacteria.
Manuka Honey is proven natural antibacterial agent that included in modern licensed wound-care products around the world.
Manuka Honey uses a combination of weapons including not only Methylglyoxal, but Polyphenols and an Osmotic effect. Manuka Honey breaks up bacteria by destroying its way of communication.
Manuka Honey also has ability to pause the spreading of biofilms (bacteria communities) that cause inflammations. Manuka Honey keeps these biofilms from growth by breaking up a bacterial communication method called "quorum sensing". By breaking up this process, manuka honey stops the bacteria from normal communication and expanding their viability. Without this communication regime, the inflammation bacterias cannot spread the toxins that rise their capacity to cause illness. By destroying 'quorum sensing", the poisoning behavior of biofilm is reduced, making the bacteria more susceptible to conventional antibiotics.
Lately, medicine has been resisted by a growing number of antibiotic resistant bacterias. Very often, most general antibiotics are not effective in treating wounds infected with strains of bacteria like MRSA (Staphylococcus Aureus), Pseudomonas Aeruginosa etc.
The benefit of applying high grade Manuka Honey on infected wounds is that this type of honey has not only hydrogen peroxide (typical for most honeys), but also methylglyoxal and polyphenols, which together are believed to work in an effective way to kill drug resistant bacterias that cause wound infections.
For treating difficult wound cases, doctors should consider manuka honey as a first remedy, along with antibiotics as a last resort. Conventional antibiotics fail because they only target the essential growth processes of bacteria. While Manuka Honey in addition could target and disrupt peripheral communication process of bacterias and thus help with recovery.
How does Manuka Honey works to combat drug resistant bacteria?
1. The active component in Manuka Honey, Methylglyoxal can penetrate deep tissue and is able to reach deeper-seated infections.
2. Manuka Honey keeps the wound moist and prevents the gauze to stick to the wound and cause tissue damage.
3. The moist property of Manuka Honey help the wound heal faster and provides vitamins, nutrients and amino acids to tissue.
4. Manuka Honey promotes tissue regeneration and reduces scarring.
5. Manuka Honey helps clean the infected wound by lifting any dirt and malodor out of the wound.
6. Manuka Honey works much differently, breaking down the bacteria's communication processes while dehydrating the bacteria's structures through an osmosis effect. Manuka Honey is filled with powerful antioxidants in the form of polyphenols.
Please keep in mind that healing is usually slowed down by preexisting conditions like poor blood circulation, diabetes or lung disease.
Manuka Honey is recommended both orally and applied on the skin surface.
Internal uses: a minimum of 3 spoons fool every day, half hour before meals and before bed time.
External uses: Manuka Honey with a level of activity above MGO 400+ should be applied directly on the infected wound and covered with a septic gauze for at least 20 minutes or as long as the body tolerates it. Rinse the wound with warm water and repeat the Manuka Honey application every couple of hours increasing the exposure as the body gets used to the active ingredient in Manuka Honey.
Manuka Honey study: Properties of Methylglyoxal in Manuka Honey